Suction cleaner



Nov. 16,- 1937. D. c. GERBER 2,099,391.

SUCTION CLEANER Filed OC. 18, 1935 llllll v |NvENToR ATTO RN EY Patented Nov. 16 1937 UNITED STATES sUc'rroN CLEANER Dale C. Gerber, North Canto-n, Ohio, assignor to The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, a

corporation oi Ohio Application October 18, 1935, Serial No. 45,531

l 9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in suc.-

tion cleaners and more particularly to a device to be incorporated in a suction cleaner as a means of indicating the conditions within the bagor dust '5 receptacle as regards the amount of dirt therein decreases and the resulting increased resistance to the passage of air therethrough creates a back pressure which is manifested in a decrease in the eiiiciency of the cleaner. The object of the invention is to provide a simple and compact type of indicator together withA a novel mounting therefor, whereby the same is completely housed and protected against damage and yet conveniently located for ready visibility by the operator.

A preferred embodiment of my invention is disclosed in the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the main casing of a suction cleaner showing the bag pressure indicator incorporated in a ring intermediate the bag and the cleaner proper.

Figure 2 is a view in cross section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1 showing the mounting of the pressure indicator in the ring. y

Figure 3-is a perspective view of the parts o the ring including the indicator as they appear when dis-assembled, and diligure 4 is a perspective view of the indicator As shown in Figure 1, a typical suction cleaner comprises a wheeled casing I having a nozzle portion 2 at its forward end and leading to a fan chamber immediately below the dome-like casing 3 housing the motor for driving the fan. Beyond the fan chamber is an exhaust passage 4 terminating in an abruptly iiaring outlet connection 5, to which is removably attached a fabric dust bag 6 of the usual elongated shape and having its upper end preferably supported by the cleaner handle, not shown herein exceptfor one of the arms of the bail 'I by which the handle is pivotally mounted on the casing I.

During the cleaning operationl the bag 6 is closed to the atmosphere, the permeability of the fabric permitting the air to pass therethroughV while retaining the dirt carried with the air into the bag.

The bag 6 is preferably attached to the outlet connection 5 through the medium of a ring 8, having flush contact with the outlet connection 5, and provided with diametricallyv opposed notched ears 8a, 8a adapted to engage a pair of complementary bolts 5a, 5a mounted at the edge of the outlet connection`. The ring has ush contact with the outlet connection at one edge and at its opposite edge is providedjwith an annular ange 8b to which the inlet end of the bag proper is secured by means of a clamping ring 6a.

As clearly shownin Figures k2 and 3, the ring 8 is made up of two sections, namely, `the main casting or-body and an arcuate segment 9, forming the upper section of the complete ring and bearing on a flat seat I0 tangential to an eccentric opening through the main body of the ring. At the central portion of the seat I0 is a circular opening I I surrounded by a shallow substantially semi-circular recess I0 and immediately below the circular opening II is a U-shaped lwall segment I2 depending into the annular opening through the ring and forming a rectangular frame adaptedto partially enclose a .portion of the indicator as will presently be seen. l

The segment 9 of the ring #consists of a wall. section curved transversely through to a 90 angle and having a rounded top edge meeting its ilat bottom edge to form sockets 9, 9a for screws I3, I3 whereby the segment is anchored to its seat I0 as clearly shown in Figure 2. Moreover, the segment has a centrallyA disposed chamber included between a pairof upright webs 9b, 9b and in the wall of the segment between the upright webs is a rectangular opening or window 9c, facing upwardly and rearwardly toward the operator of the cleaner and therefore visible from operating position.

Now, seating in the opening II with portions` extending above and below is' the indicator I4 comprising a circular base plate I5 having a marginal -iiange I5 supporting the bellows mems ber I6. Extending axially of the base plate I5 and depending into the bellows member I6' and attached at its lower end to the end wall thereof, is a pin I1 with its upper end projecting through and a short distance above the plate I5 and contacting with the underside of an indicator dial I8,- pivotally supported on the base plate. The dial I8 is a member of thin metal shaped to form an arcuate dial face I8 including an angle of about and having at one end a -pair of radially extending arms I8il and at its opposite or lower end an in-turned curved finger IBC, extending generally toward the ends of the arms I8b, all as clearly shown in Figure 4. The dial member is pivotally mounted on a pin I9 supported between two upstanding lugs I5b, I5b on the upper side of the base plate I5 and passing through holes in the ends of the radial arms I8b of the 'dial member. And nally, a. coil spring 20 surrounds the pin I9 with its free end portion bearing downwardly upon the end of the'iinger I8c of the dial -member, thereby acting to hold the moving parts of the indicator in their normal or depressed position as shown in Figure 1.

In assembling the indicator in the ring, the dial I8 is positioned to swing in an arc concentric with the wall of the 'chamber in which it is Ylocated and opposite the window `8c therein and through which may be seen the words Clean,

Caution and Dirty, the latter being placed at the lower end o f the dial plate and preferably on a background of red or other visible color (Figure 4).

When the cleaner is not in operation, it is apparent that the pressure indicator will assume its normal position, namely, with the bellows memf ber I6 extended and the indicator in its depressed position, in which the Word Clean is visible through the Window.. Moreover, the indicator will continue to register Clean, while the machine is in operation and so long as the bag 6 is relatively clean. However, as the bag becomes dirty the increasing back pressure 'causes the bellows member to collapse, and the pin I'I rotates the dial member, rst, to a position in which the word Caution registers through the' window opening signifying that the bag is approaching a dirty condition, and lastly, to a position in which the word Dirty appears, thus warning the user that the bag should be emptied without delay.

Considering the novel features herein disclosed, it is to be observed that the invention resides not so much in the indicator per se as in the adaptation of the ring 8 as the support and housing for the indicator. As shown, this ring is an integral part of the bag` 6, inA that it is permanently attached thereto and is removed therewith when the bag is emptied of its dirt contents, it being done by loosening the nuts 5b, 5b and releasing the ears 8a, 8a from the bolts 5*", 5"'.

Now, it is common practice to removably attach a dust bag to the outlet connection of a 'cleaner by means of a. plain ring having the same type of connection as herein shown. But manifestly the ordinary bag-ring so called, would not provide a. mounting for an indicaton without completely redesigning both the ring andthe outlet connection from the cleaner.

In the first place, the ring has to be widened considerably to accommodate the indicator. Secondly, in order to provide a chamber for the indicator in the upper portion of the ring it is necessary to resort to the eccentric inner and outer surfaces unless the dial member be-enclosed Within a casing projecting from the surface of the ring. However, it is possible to include the indicator within the circumference of a ring by enlarging its external diameter slightly, retaining its internal diameter to the required exhaust Opening, but offsetting the axis thereof, and finally, by redesigning the outlet connection from the cleaner casing I to conform to the ring.

2| extending transversely across the mouth of the opening with its outer edge flush therewith. Thus, when the ring 8 is attached this web 2l registers with the outer edge of the U-shaped frame I2 surrounding the bellows of the indicator, thus closing oi the chamber in which the indicator is located from the air passage below and through which the dust-laden air is impelled with great force into the bag.

In this manner the indicator is protected from direct contact with the exhaust dirt and yet the bellows is subjected tothe pressure in the bag through the open side of the frame I2 facing towardl the inlet thereto.

From the foregoing discussion it is manifest that although the ring 8 is designed as a mounting for the indicator and as an integral part of the bag, it need not necessarily be a part of the" bagor removable with it in the act o f emptying its contents. In other words, it may be considered as a `separate unit or adapter to be inserted between the cleaner proper and its bag when it is desired to include a pressure actuated signal de vice as apart of a complete cleaner. In short, it is not essential that the annular member forming the indicator mounting be limited to a bag ring or Aa part of the bag or for that matter, to

any of the structural details herein disclosedl ly to provide a chamber therein, a dust receptav cle attached to said ring and communicating with said exhaust passage and said chamber, and an air pressure indicator mounted in said chamber.

3. In a suction cleaner, the combination of a suction unit having an exhaust passage terminating in a ring having a radially o'set chamber separated fromsaid exhaust passage by a longitudinally extending partition wall and provided with a rearwardly facing opening, an air pressure indicator mounted in said chamber and a dust receptacle attached to said ring and communicating with said exhaust passage and the opening to said chamber.

4. In a suction cleaner, the combination of a. suction producing unit having an exhaust passage terminating in an outlet connection including a ring having a rearwardly opening chamber separated from said exhaust passage by a longitudinally extending partition wall, a pressure indicator comprising a pressure responsive element subject to the pressure in said chamber and a dust receptacle attached to said outlet connection and communicating with said exhaust passage and said chamber.

5. In a suction cleaner, the combination of a suction producing unit having an exhaust passage terminating in a bag supporting ring divided transversely to form a chamber adjacent said exhaust passage and having a rearwardly facing opening, a pressure indicating device having a. bellows housed within said chamber and a dust bag attached to said outlet connection and communicating with said exhaust passage and the rearwardly facing opening to said chamber.

6. In a suction cleaner, the combination vof suction producing unit having an exhaust passage terminating in a ring divided by a transverse partition wall to form a rearwardly opening pressure indicating chamber oifset from said exhaust passage, a

device mounted in said chamber and having a bellows, a U shaped wall segment partially enclosing said bellows and forming the opening to said chamber and a dust receptacle attached to said outlet connection and communicating with said exhaust passage and said chamber.

7. In a suction cleaner, the combination of a suction producing unit having an exhaust outlet, an annular member adapted for ,detachable connection with said outlet and having a partition. wall dividing the same into a passage forming an extension `of said exhaust outlet and a chamber having a rearwardly facing opening, a pressure indicator mounted in said chamber and a dust bag connected to said annular member and communicating with said passage and said cham-l ber.

8. In a' suction cleaner, the combination of a suction producing unit having an outlet connection, an annular member adapted for detachable connection to said outlet connection and having suction producing haust passage a passage forming anextension of said exhaust outlet and a chamber separated from said passage by a partition wall extending longitudinally of said member and providing a rearwardly facing openingfrom said chamber, a pressureindicator housed in said chamber and having a bellows seating in said parti-tion wall, a` U shaped wall segment integral with said partition wall and enclosing the space around said bellows and a dust bag detachably connected about the'outer edge of said annular member' and including said exhaust passage and the opening tol saidchamber.

9. In a suction cleaner, the combination of a unit having an outlet connection, an annular member'adapted for detachable .connection to said outlet connection and having a passage forming an extension of said exhaust outlet and a chamber` separated froml said passage yby a partition wall, a pressure indicator mounted in said chamber and having a bellows seating in said partition wall, a U shaped-wall segment integral with said partition wall and enclosing the space around said bellows and forming a rearwardly facing opening to said chamber and a' dust bag detachably connected to the outer edge of said annular member, with its entrance including the-outlet from said exand the opening to said chamber.

DALE C. GERBER. 

